FIFA picks India, Jordan to host youth World Cups

By foxsports
Published

Soccer's governing body has made the ''geopolitical decision'' to choose India as a youth World Cup host for the first time. Jordan will be the first Arabic host of a women's tournament.

India gets the Under-17 World Cup in 2017, and the Under-17 Women's World Cup goes to Jordan in 2016.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter told a news conference that selecting India was ''really a sports political, a geopolitical decision.''

He called Jordan's victory ''another landmark for FIFA'' that an Arabic country would organize a women's competition.

In other decisions, South Korea will stage the Under-20 World Cup in 2017, and South Africa the 2016 Under-20 Women's World Cup.

FIFA's congress of 209 member countries will be held in Mexico City in 2016 and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2017.